‘according to usage and conventions which are at last being questioned but have by no means been overcome - men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at’ (Berger 1972, 45, 47)
Discuss this quote with reference to one work of art and one work from the contemporary media.
Berger talks about how men look at women and how women watch themselves being looked at. By this he means that women are made to be looked at for the pleasure of men, men are allowed to look at women and women enjoy watching themselves being looked at by men. I have looked at two pieces of work where this theory has been put into practice. One is a piece of art and the other a piece of contemporary media.
This piece of contemporary media is an example of how the woman has been positioned to be looked at by men in a way that comes across that she doesnt mind the fact that this is happening. She is not looking directly at us which makes us feel comfortable to look at her. She is also looking at her cleavage, which again gives us permission to do the same. Because she is not gazing at us, it doesnt feel like a stand off or that she is not wanting you to look at her, her stance is inviting. This woman is watching herself by looking at her cleavage, knowing that she is being watched by men.
This is an older piece of art but the same theory has been applied. The woman in this painting is looking at us, but in a flirtatious way. The way in which she is laid across the bed is inviting and she doesnt mind to be looked at. She is touching/ covering her genitals which could be suggestive, her head is also slanted which doesnt make her pose seem so abrupt. Also the sleeping dog at the end of her bed suggests friendliness and a welcoming invitation, as dogs are mans best friend.
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